Gorgeous, sunny conditions, a clear improvement on the inaugural 2007 edition's cold rain
2008 Ballot results
The datasheet
Tokyo Marathon 2008 ballot: 130,062 applications
Viktor Rothlin ran 2:07:23 to win the second Tokyo Marathon on February 17, 2008, a Swiss national record and the fastest winning time in the young event's history, with the general lottery drawing 130,062 marathon applicants.
Applications
130,062
Field size
26,665
Total finishers
Race day
Feb 17
2008
Semi-elite
M2:21 W2:52
Open category (18–34)
Race day weather
What runners faced on the course
Context
What made 2008 notable
February 17, 2008 was Viktor Rothlin's day. Under the gorgeous, sunny skies that the rain hit inaugural edition had lacked, the Swiss ran 2:07:23 to win the second Tokyo Marathon, a national record that lowered his own mark by almost a minute and stood as the fastest winning time the young race had seen. The story behind him was home favourite Arata Fujiwara. An unheralded 2:38 runner before the day, he clung to the lead group and held on for second in 2:08:40 despite severe late cramps, with Kenya's Julius Gitahi third. Demand surged too: the general lottery drew 130,062 marathon applicants, up sharply on 2007. Claudia Dreher of Germany took the women's race in 2:35:35.
Year over year
Applications over time
Applications · 2007 → 2025
78K130K226K272K294K283K303K302K305K309K321K320K330K300K
'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'25
FAQ
Questions about the 2008 ballot
How many people applied for the 2008 Tokyo Marathon?
The general lottery drew 130,062 marathon applicants for the 2008 race, well up on the 77,521 who applied for the inaugural 2007 edition.
Who won Tokyo 2008?
Viktor Rothlin (SUI) won the men's race in 2:07:23, a Swiss national record. Claudia Dreher (GER) won the women's race in 2:35:35.
Why was Viktor Rothlin's 2008 Tokyo time notable?
His 2:07:23 was a Swiss national record, lowering his own mark by almost a minute, and the fastest winning time in the Tokyo Marathon's history at that point.
What was the weather at the 2008 Tokyo Marathon?
Gorgeous and sunny, a clear improvement on the cold rain that marked the inaugural 2007 edition.
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